NEW MILFORD -- With no debate, the Town Council Monday night agreed to let the school district tap its capital reserve account for some $162,000 to match a state grant to upgrade school security measures.

At a meeting in November, the Town Council balked at approving the Board of Education's request for the funds because there was no guarantee the state would approve the grant. Council members were also dismayed that security cameras were purchased before money was available to do the wiring required to install them.
Still, council members conceded that if the state was to come through with the matching grant for school security improvements they would revisit the request.
The district's finance officer, John Turk, said the state has promised to send a check within a week with the stipulation the money be spent by June 30.
The council was satisfied the matching funds will be available and unanimously approved the expenditure. The council's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Finance for approval.
For more than a year, the school board has been talking about ways to better secure its buildings and improve safety for students and staff.
With these funds, Facility Manager John Calhoun said, security cameras will be installed at all three elementary schools, with additional cameras added at Schaghticoke Middle and Sarah Noble Intermediate. The high school already has adequate camera surveillance, he said.
In addition to those upgrades, Calhoun said district-wide other improvements will include the installation of speed bumps, security gates, access controls for entry doors and replacing old doors. Any other security issues will also be addressed.
Money for these improvements was not included in budgets either last year or for the coming year.
Vandalism at Sarah Noble that damaged the front office in September highlighted the need for some additional security measures in that school.
In November, the council and school board squared off over requests for other capital improvements, with the council disputing whether they were emergencies. Several members said the capital reserve fund should be for emergency repairs.
In the end, the council approved $365,000 for various improvements, but delayed the security request until the state match was approved.

Security improvements State has approved a school security grant of $162,000 to be matched with town funds -- Town Council Monday approved tapping district's capital reserve account for the matching funds School security improvements to include: n Security cameras in all the elementary schools; additional cameras at the middle school and intermediate school n Speed bumps n Access controls for entry doors n Replacement of old doors n Security gates